According to the IBTimes, the China Netcasting Services Association (CNSA) has just announced a new ban on gay content online. The CNSA describes the ban as one on “abnormal sexual behaviour”. Videos containing “terrorism, superstition and homosexuality” are now banned and streaming services have been told to remove them. The new rules also require professional censors to ensure content blocked by the ban isn’t accessible. The Chinese LGBT magazine commented on the news, saying: “The false information in these regulations has already caused harm to the Chinese LGBT community – who are already subjected to prejudice and discrimination.”

This is not the first time China has tried to block access to LGBT content. Last year the Chinese Government attempted to ban portrayals of homosexuality on television. Calling the portrayals “immoral, vulgar and unhealthy”, homosexuality was banned alongside smoking, drinking alcohol, suggestive clothing and the idea of reincarnation. The Chinese LGBT community had been enjoying a surge of optimism after the highest court in Taiwan ordered its parliament to legalise same-sex marriage. An LGBT conference in China was cancelled earlier this year after police detained nine LGBT activists and told them LGBT events were not welcome in their city. The Speak Out conference in the north-west city of Xi’an was expected to welcome 400 people for a celebration and discussion of LGBT rights. A Chinese tech company also this year bought Grindr, which is popular among gay and bisexual men around the world. China last month censored a number of parts in Ridley Scott’s new film, Alien Covenant, including a gay kiss But earlier this year China introduced new sex education materials which were actually pretty inclusive.